NationStates Jolt Archive

BREAKING NEWS
-16dec05- A US federal judge has ordered Iran to pay victims of a 1983 suicide bombing of the US embassy in Beirut $US126 million ($168.6 million), lawyers for the victims said today.

Judge John Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled yesterday that Iran supported Hizbollah militants in the April 1983 bombing, the first suicide attack ever against a US embassy.

Citing evidence that Iran provided Hizbollah with arms, money and other support, Judge Bates ruled that Iran must pay 29 victims and their families $US126 million.

"We are pleased that the court has again recognised Iran to be at the centre of this heinous act of terrorism and that Iran will be called to account for its actions," said Michael Martinez, a lawyer representing the victims.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to enforce the judgment soon," he said.

The embassy bombing killed 63 people, including 17 US nationals. Anne Dammarell, a former US Agency for International Development employee, who was wounded in the bombing was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

"This lawsuit is our way of fighting back," she said in a statement. "It is the only way we have to make Iran accountable for the incredible pain it inflicted through its support of Hizbollah."

Beirut embassy victims win $168m
BREAKING NEWS-16dec05- A US federal judge has ordered Iran to pay victims of a 1983 suicide bombing of the US embassy in Beirut $US126 million ($168.6 million), lawyers for the victims said today.

Judge John Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled yesterday that Iran supported Hizbollah militants in the April 1983 bombing, the first suicide attack ever against a US embassy.

Citing evidence that Iran provided Hizbollah with arms, money and other support, Judge Bates ruled that Iran must pay 29 victims and their families $US126 million.

"We are pleased that the court has again recognised Iran to be at the centre of this heinous act of terrorism and that Iran will be called to account for its actions," said Michael Martinez, a lawyer representing the victims.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to enforce the judgment soon," he said.

The embassy bombing killed 63 people, including 17 US nationals. Anne Dammarell, a former US Agency for International Development employee, who was wounded in the bombing was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

"This lawsuit is our way of fighting back," she said in a statement. "It is the only way we have to make Iran accountable for the incredible pain it inflicted through its support of Hizbollah."


I feel sorry for the poor bastard who has to go serve Iran with the notice of that debt...

Iran's economy is growing by 6.3% a year. They can afford it if they want to.

Otherwise, you can just add it to their national debt, which is already something like 140 billion dollars.

I'm sure they'll be happy to start writing checks out right away before all their assets are restricted.

Iran's economy is growing by 6.3% a year. They can afford it if they want to.They can pay...

The Question is why should they?

That Judge has no jurisdiction over Iran... nothing nada...

He might as well rule that Martians owe Monika Lewinsky 40 trillion Dollars... and the Martians are never going to bother answering his phone call.

I'm sure they'll be happy to start writing checks out right away before all their assets are restricted.wanna bet?

They can pay...

The Question is why should they?

That Judge has no jurisdiction over Iran... nothing nada...

He might as well rule that Martians owe Monika Lewinsky 40 trillion Dollars... and the Martians are never going to bother answering his phone call.
Well, he can just order Iranian assets such as stocks or bonds held in the US seized and turned over to the plaintifs I suppose.

How come theyre so poor? dont they have loads of oil? please dont mock my ignorance, im just too lazy to look it up.

How come theyre so poor? dont they have loads of oil? please dont mock my ignorance, im just too lazy to look it up.
They're not a really poor country. You're right. They make an assload of money from oil.

I'm sure they'll be happy to start writing checks out right away before all their assets are restricted.
Hmm. If I remember correctly, there are still millions of dollars in a series of Iranian accounts siezed during the US Embassy siezure back in 1980-something. The payments could be drawn from those accounts, I think.

They can pay...

The Question is why should they?

That Judge has no jurisdiction over Iran... nothing nada...

See, that is one of the perks of being a superpower, the US might not have any legitimate jurisdiction to enforce the ruling, but doesn/t mean it won't be enforced. A little bit of investigation, and Iranian money in any account anywhere in the world can be taken, all the US needs to do is apply pressure to the right institutions or nations. A court ruling like this is a shot over the bow, it is an excercise in US power designed to intimidate individuals who might be thinking about funding terrorist groups and to show off US power without causing an international incedent like the Iraq debacle.

Sure, they'll pay up... They'll pqay up when the US gives Canada back the money it took in softwood lumber taxes!

Sure, they'll pay up... They'll pqay up when the US gives Canada back the money it took in softwood lumber taxes!
You're missing the point of several other posters. They don't have to give us the money, we can just take it.

You're missing the point of several other posters. They don't have to give us the money, we can just take it.
I know they can take it from the assets already saeized, but why not just add to suffering? You know, salt the wounds?!

Well, he can just order Iranian assets such as stocks or bonds held in the US seized and turned over to the plaintifs I suppose.
I think they already are, I don't think there's any trade between the US and Iran at this moment, at least not official or legal. The decision is more symbolic than anything else, though, just to make it clear that Iran had knowledge and participated in this attack and therefore has some responsibility

They can pay...

The Question is why should they?

That Judge has no jurisdiction over Iran... nothing nada...

He might as well rule that Martians owe Monika Lewinsky 40 trillion Dollars... and the Martians are never going to bother answering his phone call.

It worked with Libya. Libya was sued over the Lockerbie bombing and lost. Apparently, Qaddafi has figured out that if he wants to be able to deal with the Western world, and not restrict the number of nations that like Libya to North Korea, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela, he's got to play nice.

It's interesting that the world's highest quality oil, in terms of conversion to gasoline, comes from Libya, and now Qaddafi is all about being nice with the West - so he can make money. Good timing, too, considering that the oil is worth much more now.

Iran doesn't have to pay if it doesn't want to. Iran doesn't have to follow anyone's ideas of how to live - they can make nuclear weapons and wipe Israel from the face of the map if they like - it's just that they had better realize that they can't do these things without expecting a little payback.

Well, he can just order Iranian assets such as stocks or bonds held in the US seized and turned over to the plaintifs I suppose.I guess the lesson to be learned here is to leave your saving in countries where they respect the rule of Law... and where they respect international treaties.

Never put your money on Countries with prostitute Laws...Laws that can be whored up at will.

See, that is one of the perks of being a superpower, the US might not have any legitimate jurisdiction to enforce the ruling, but doesn/t mean it won't be enforced..Hmm. If I remember correctly, there are still millions of dollars in a series of Iranian accounts siezed during the US Embassy siezure back in 1980-something. The payments could be drawn from those accounts, I think.thank you for proving my point :D

It worked with Libya. Libya was sued over the Lockerbie bombing and lost. Apparently, Qaddafi has figured out that if he wants to be able to deal with the Western world, and not restrict the number of nations that like Libya to North Korea, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela, he's got to play nice.


Libya didn't actually lose as I recall, but offered to settle in order to have sanctions permenantly lifted. So the solution ended up being political rather than judicial in this case.

What will be interesting to see is if the Pan Am's estate manages to suceed in its lawsuit.

Oh, and there is a whole host of reasons why this should be thrown out.

Iran doesn't have to follow anyone's ideas of how to live - they can make nuclear weapons and wipe Israel from the face of the map if they like - it's just that they had better realize that they can't do these things without expecting a little payback.

Somehow I think Israel won't be a target of Iran. They have their own nukes...ever hear of MAD? (mutually assured destruction) And the last time some uppity muslim nations decided to attack Israel and "wipe them from the face of the map" they got their asses handed to them. In about 7 days.

Somehow I think Israel won't be a target of Iran. They have their own nukes...ever hear of MAD?
Since Bill Gaines passed away it's just not very good anymore.

thank you for proving my point :D
You're welcome, although I didn't really "prove" anything, just thought I remembered something about that. :)